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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / TSBs and Service Bulletin > Owner's of new 320d's in foreign lands: Can you measure urea/def fluid level?
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      01-15-2014, 06:05 PM   #1
m6pwr
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Owner's of new 320d's in foreign lands: Can you measure urea/def fluid level?

I've got a 2014 BMW 328d with the n47 diesel engine. It is I believe essentially the same as the BMW 320d sold in Europe and other lands. It uses ADBlue/urea fluid injected into the exhaust for improved emissions. In the U.S. the fluid is called def or diesel emission fluid. The 328d carries 3 U.S. gallons of the def.

My question to other owners of 320d's is: Can the def fluid level be measured - - much in the same way that you can measure oil level - - electronically in the iDrive?

The U.S. owner's manual says that the def fluid may have to be replenished (at some indeterminate point) before the scheduled oil service interval, which in the U.S. is every 10,000 mi (about every 16,000 kilometers). The owner's manual goes on to say if the 328d is driven in a "particularly sport style" (perish the thought) the def may have to be replenished even more often. Not to worry. The owner's manual says the def fluid level may be measured at any time. The manual says the fluid level can be displayed in the iDrive Control Screen as follows:

select "Vehicle info", then select "Vehicle status", then select "Diesel exhaust fluid".

The only trouble is that there is no selection for "Diesel exhaust fluid" on the U.S. 328d's, so no way to measure def level - - no way that is until the low level warning light comes on to tell you that you will soon run dry. I wrote to BMW North America about this discrepancy and their answer (by telephone message) was that the manual is written to cover many different markets besides the U.S. - - the implication being that there are some countries or markets where the 320d/328d can measure def fluid, as stated in the owner's manual.

This is not a huge deal. I'm just curious. I think BMW NA may be blowing smoke up my auspuff.
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      01-16-2014, 05:15 AM   #2
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i have a 2014 bmw 320d in Portugal(Europe) and we dont use ADBLUE in our engines and i dont have that info in idrive.
sorry can not help
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      01-22-2014, 09:53 PM   #3
diablo2112
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My code reader (Actron CP9580A) reads "reagent level" off the OBD II port. This is level of fluid in the DEF tank. My new 328d (2000 miles) reads 97% at the moment. There's a few other parameters like consumption rate you can read as well. Not the easiest solution, but a way to determine tank level before you get the warning.

FYI, this reader can access roughly 300 different readings from the OBDII port, and store/plot them in real time. Quite handy.
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      01-23-2014, 09:48 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diablo2112 View Post
My code reader (Actron CP9580A) reads "reagent level" off the OBD II port. This is level of fluid in the DEF tank. My new 328d (2000 miles) reads 97% at the moment. There's a few other parameters like consumption rate you can read as well. Not the easiest solution, but a way to determine tank level before you get the warning.

FYI, this reader can access roughly 300 different readings from the OBDII port, and store/plot them in real time. Quite handy.
That's good to know. Apparently the burn rate of the def is not that great.

Where did you purchase your code reader?

Thanks
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      01-23-2014, 12:55 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m6pwr View Post
Where did you purchase your code reader?

Thanks
I use an Actron CP9580A reader. A bit pricey compared to others, but it will do everything including real-time readout, graphs, and storage of data. I got mine at Autozone; nearly any auto parts store will carry these.

edit: note the "a" in the part number is important. The other version of the tool, the CP9580 doesn't state that it reads extended PID data. I can say that the CP9580a has no problem reading the DEF level and several other parameters related to exhaust fluid use for the BMW 328d, along with about 300 other parameters from the OBDII port.

Last edited by diablo2112; 01-23-2014 at 01:05 PM..
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      03-23-2014, 02:26 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diablo2112 View Post
I use an Actron CP9580A reader. A bit pricey compared to others, but it will do everything including real-time readout, graphs, and storage of data. I got mine at Autozone; nearly any auto parts store will carry these.

edit: note the "a" in the part number is important. The other version of the tool, the CP9580 doesn't state that it reads extended PID data. I can say that the CP9580a has no problem reading the DEF level and several other parameters related to exhaust fluid use for the BMW 328d, along with about 300 other parameters from the OBDII port.
Any chance you can share the custom PIDs, formulas and units your code reader is finding. Any of these would be helpful. I have a programmable code reader but trial and error could take a while to discover the relevant codes!

Thanks,

Lynn (328d, US version)
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      08-11-2014, 03:34 AM   #7
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Curiously where is the container for the "DEF"?
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      08-11-2014, 09:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iastute View Post
Curiously where is the container for the "DEF"?
The tanks are under the trunk floor (behind the wheel wells) with the filler behind the fuel door.
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      08-12-2014, 08:12 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floydarogers View Post
The tanks are under the trunk floor (behind the wheel wells) with the filler behind the fuel door.
Thanks floydarogers.

I'll take a look tomorrow.
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